WO2000067456A1

WO2000067456A1 - Communication system on a public telephone network between a user and a correspondent

Info

Publication number: WO2000067456A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/000948
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Barakat; James Wingo; Jochi Herrero
Original assignee: Schlumberger Systemes
Priority date: 1999-04-29
Filing date: 2000-04-12
Publication date: 2000-11-09
Also published as: FR2793097A1; AU3973000A; FR2793097B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a communication system on a public telephone network (1) between a user and at least a correspondent provided with a telecommunication apparatus (21, 22, 23, 24) connected to said public telephone network (1). The invention is characterised in that the telecommunication system comprises a telephone server (30) installed on the public telephone network (1) and accessible by means of a specific call number (No) of the user, said telephone server (30) being capable of recording a message (M1, M2.M3, M4) addressed to the user when the correspondent calls using said specific call number (No) of the user, dialled on said telecommunication apparatus (21, 22, 23, 24), such that the user can accede to said message (M1, M2, M3, M4) by dialling at least said specific call number (No) on a telephone apparatus (10) connected to the public telephone network (1). The invention is applicable to telephone systems.

Description

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ON A PUBLIC TELEPHONE NETWORK BETWEEN A USER AND A CORRESPONDENT

The present invention relates to a communication system on a public telephone network, between a user and at least one correspondent having a telecommunications device connected to said public telephone network.

The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of telephony.

There are a certain number of circumstances where the services of a public telephone network are not directly accessible or usable by a user, in particular for receiving or sending messages via said telephone network.

This is particularly the case in very large countries where the installation of telephone infrastructure on a large scale is limited by their financial cost, thus excluding the widespread use of individual telephones.

Likewise, for lack of sufficient income, low-income people, students, etc., cannot generally afford the services of a full-time public telephone network. On the other hand, some people, such as students living in a university for example, actually only use the phone on an ad hoc basis during their time at university, without needing a full subscription to all telephone services. Also, people who travel privately or for professional reasons do not always have at their disposal a personal means of telecommunication allowing them to be easily reached by any correspondent. Finally, for very long distance communications, any direct telephone connection between two people is often impossible due to a significant time difference.

Also, the technical problem to be solved, by the object of the present invention, is to propose a communication system by a public telephone network, between a user and at least one correspondent having a telecommunication device connected to said public telephone network, which would allow the user of said communication system to exchange messages with his correspondents without having a means of telecommunications, such as a personal telephone.

The solution to the technical problem posed consists, according to the present invention, in that said telecommunication system comprises a telephone server installed on the public telephone network and accessible by means of a specific telephone number of the user, said telephone server being capable of recording a message intended for the user on call from the correspondent by means of said specific telephone number of the user, dialed on said telecommunication device, so that the user accesses said message by dialing at least said specific call number on a telephone device connected to the public telephone network.

Thus, the user, subscribed to the communication system according to the invention, although he cannot be reached directly by his correspondents, can receive messages from them at any time. It suffices to communicate to them the specific personal call number, assigned by the system operator, so that they can access the telephone server to leave their message. Then, to read the messages intended for him, the user enters into communication with the telephone server by means of his specific call number dialed on a telephone device. any, such as a public telephone, the telephone of a friend, a relative, or available in a restaurant, or any other device capable of exchanging information over a telephone network.

Conversely, in order to allow the user of the communication system according to the invention to send messages to each of his correspondents, provision is made for the telephone server to be able to record a message intended for the correspondent on call from the user by means of said specific call number, said message being accompanied, at least, by a personal identification number of the correspondent, so that the correspondent accesses said message by dialing, at least, the specific call number of the user and his personal identification number on his telecommunications device.

According to a particular embodiment of the communication system of the invention, said personal identification number of the correspondent consists of his call number on the public telephone network.

In the same vein, the invention provides that the telephone server comprises a database of correspondents, created by the user, comprising for each correspondent, at least his call number on the public telephone network, and a date and time of transmission of the message to the correspondent by the telephone server.

It is understood that, in this way, messages originating from the user can be automatically addressed to the correspondents by the telephone server at a determined date and time, the correspondents, unlike the user, not being supposed to know that a message was sent to them by the user.

Finally, in a practical embodiment of the system of the invention, at least the specific call number of the user is stored in a electronic memory card, suitable for being inserted into a card reader of the telephone apparatus.

The description which follows with reference to the appended drawing, given by way of nonlimiting example, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented.

Figure 1 is a diagram of a communication system according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an initialization sequence of the system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a sequence of use of the system of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 is shown a communication system on a public telephone network 1, between a user having access to a telephone device 10, of the public telephone type for example, and at least one correspondent, here four, having a device 21 , 22, 23, 24 of telecommunications connected to said public telephone network 1. The telephone apparatus 10 is connected to the public network 1 via a telephone network 2 which may be a wired or non-wired network, in particular cellular, analog or digital. It can also be the Internet, or networks known as DDD (Direct Distance Dialing), DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), ISDN (Integerated Services Digital Network), SONET (Synchronous Optical Network), PCS (Personal Communication Service), PDS (Premise Distribution System). Preferably, the public telephone network 1 is a so-called intelligent network, that is to say offering personalized services to the user. A complete list of distribution networks and systems usable as telephone network 2 is given in Annex 1.

Said telecommunication apparatus, as well as the telephone apparatus 10, can be of very varied nature, such as a personal or office telephone apparatus 21, including a minitel, a public telephone, a television set 22 equipped with a modem, a multimedia computer 23 comprising in particular the functions of electronic mail, and a fax machine 24, or alternatively, but not shown, a mobile telephone, a means of access to the network public telephone over the Internet, generally any means of telephone input / output in voice, image, text, and digital data, including the system known as PDA (for the English term Personal Device Accessory) and consisting of a cell phone capable of receiving images. Similarly, ATMs can be used as telecommunication devices, in particular by including this service with those offered by bank cards.

In order to be able to perform all of these functions, the telephone set 10 must include specific equipment, such as a screen, a printer, a video camera, etc.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, said communication system comprises a telephone server 30 UnPBX installed on the public telephone network 1. The server 30 is accessible by means of a number N ° specific to the user. In practice, the user is a subscriber to the communication system, the call number number being assigned to the user by the operator of the communication system upon payment of his subscription. Depending on their subscription, the user has access via the telephone apparatus 10 to various services offered by the server 30, namely unified messaging services UM including voice messaging NM, image messaging DM, electronic mail. EM, FAX fax, IP telephony on the Internet, 1-800 access to toll-free numbers, etc. Other services can use VPS speech processing means, such as VR voice recognition, IVR interactive voice response, AA voice assistance menu, etc. All of the services offered to the user by the server 30 is given in Annex 2. Of course, these services can be implemented using any language and computer standard, such as those gathered in Annex 3. The system user of communication communicates its number

Call number to correspondents via a broadcasting medium 3, so that they can send messages M 1, M2, M3, M4 to him via the telephone server. Thus, when one of the correspondents wishes to send a message to the user, he dials the number N ° specific call number of the user on his device 21, 22, 23, or

24 of telecommunications and delivers its message M l, M2, M3 or M4. The telephone server 30 records the message in digital form, it therefore has a speech to data file converter.

Then, if he wishes to take note of the messages which have been sent to him, the user goes to the telephone apparatus 10 connected to the network 1, dials his number N ° specific to the telephone server 30 and accesses this so messages Ml, M2, M3, M4 intended for him, possibly also by composing a personal PAN authorization code, this in order to secure access to the telephone server. Of course, the server 30 is equipped with a converter of the data file into a voice message by means of a speech synthesizer.

By way of example, the call number number may consist of a first alphanumeric sequence characteristic of the telephone server and of a second alphanumeric sequence representing a personal identification code of the user.

Conversely, the communication system shown in Figure 1 allows the user to send messages to correspondents with the specific call number number. For this, the telephone server 30 is able to record messages M'1, M'4 at destination two correspondents equipped, for example, with telecommunication apparatus 21 and 24. To this end, and in general, the user accesses the telephone server 30 by means of his call number and records his messages M'1, M'4 accompanied by a personal number PIN1, PIN4 of identification. correspondents, so that these correspondents can in turn have access to their respective messages M'1, M'4 by dialing the number N ° specific call number of the user and their personal number PIN1, PIN4 identification on their telecommunication apparatus 21, 24. For example, said personal number PIN1, PIN4 for identifying correspondents can consist of the call number of said correspondent on the public telephone network 1.

More particularly, and as shown in FIG. 1, the telephone server 30 comprises a database 31 of correspondents, created by the user, and comprising for each correspondent its PIN1, PIN4 call number on the telephone network 1, a date Dl, D4 and an hour Hl, H4 of message transmission M'1, M'4 to the respective correspondents by the telephone server. This database can also include the name of the correspondent.

It should be noted, however, that in addition to the possibilities of finding or sending messages, the communication system of FIG. 1 also allows the user to make simple telephone calls, in particular toll-free numbers. You just have to choose the corresponding option in a menu, vocal or visual. Also note that all menus can be changed from time to time to personalize the messages. For example, a welcome message will be in the morning "Hello MX H and in the evening" Good evening MX ", as well as at the end of the year, the messages may end with" Happy Holidays, MX ". In the same vein, it is envisaged, during of a telephone call, to offer the user the possibility of choosing from the menu the option of communicating with an operator, this option being automatic if, after having picked up, the user does not dial any number and does not issue any his. Finally, at the request of the user, the server 30 can indicate to him, on screen or by voice, the cost of the communication per minute, and, at the end of the communication, the total cost.

Naturally, it can be provided that in order to access the messages M'1, M'4 which are intended for them, the correspondents must also dial a personal authorization code PAN1, PAN4.

In FIG. 2 is represented an initialization sequence by the user of the communication system of FIG. 1. Having first accessed the server 30 by means of a free telephone number for example, the user is received by a welcome message and a menu in which he can select the language in which he wishes to communicate. Then, it receives various information from the server covering in particular the conditions of subscription to the system. A subscriber number is then assigned to it, which is recorded in the server as well as the name of the user and possibly other information. The user can then hang up or create a database of correspondents with, for each correspondent, his name, address, telephone number, day D and time H of call.

The diagram in FIG. 3 gives a sequence of conventional use of the communication system in FIG. 1. The user accesses the server 30 by means of his subscriber number. After receiving a welcome message, they are asked to select a language and then enter their PAN code. At this time, the user has the choice between:

- find messages intended for him, or make a standard communication, - record a message to a correspondent identified by their telephone number, the day and time of the call,

- create a database of correspondents if this has not already been done. In practice, the number N ° specific call number of the user is stored in a subscriber card, suitable for being inserted in a card reader of the telephone apparatus 10. This card can be an electronic memory card serving as a means of payment, telephone units recorded in the memory being consumed during communications. However, other types of card can be considered such as credit cards, magnetic stripe cards, barcode cards. However, the use of coins is still possible, as well as access to free numbers. Annex 4 summarizes all of the means of payment usable with the communication system of the invention.

On the other hand, the electronic memory card can be personalized with options specific to the user depending on the subscription purchased. Thus, if the subscription allows, the user will be able to access a menu giving him the possibilities:

- to connect to the server 30 with the submenu options, either to leave a message, or to find a message,

- establish a simple telephone call with special personalized numbers as submenu, such as free numbers for example. APPENDIX 1 DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS AND SYSTEMS

1. Cable, analog or digital networks (copper wires, coaxial cables, optical fibers),

2. Unwired networks, cellular networks,

3. Internet telephony (IP),

4. DDD (Direct Distance Dialing),

5. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), 6. ISDN (Integration Services Digital Network),

7. ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode),

8. SONET (Synchronous Optical Network),

9. PCS (Personal Communication Service), 10. PDS (Premise Distribution System), 11. POTS (Plain Old Telephone System),

12. T- l (American telephone link at 1.544 Mbps),

13. E-l (European telephone link at 2.048 Mbps),

14. T-3 (American telephone link at 45 Mbps),

15. E-3 (34 Mbps European telephone link), 16. Routing by free numbers,

17. AIN (Advanced Intelligent Network).

ANNEX 2 SERVICES

1. UnPBX,

2. Unified Messaging (UM),

3. Automatic telephone assistance (AA),

4. Voicemail,

5. E-mail, 6. Fax,

7. Group faxing,

8. Fax on request,

9. Computer-assisted numbering, 10. Automatic numbering, 11. Conditional interruption,

12. Automatic callback,

13. ACD (Automatic Call Distribution),

14. ACS (Automatic Call Sequencer),

15. Pulse / tone converter, 16. Database,

17. Automatic standby,

18. UPS (Uninterrupted Power System),

19. Switching,

20. Toll-free numbers, 21. PDA (Personal Device Accesories),

22. Virtual telephone,

23. Operator,

24. Noise reduction,

25. Routers, multiplexers, modems, bridges, 26. Public telephony, 27. Integration and connection interfaces,

28. Voice processing system (NPS),

29. Interactive voice response (IVR),

30. Text / speech converter,

31. Speech recognition.

APPENDIX 3 COMPUTER LANGUAGES AND STANDARDS

1. MS-DOS,

2. Windows (95, 98, NT),

3. Unix,

4. Qunix,

5. C ++, 6. Visual Basic,

7. Java,

8. Jini,

9. SCSA (Signal Computing System Architecture), 10. M VIP (Multi-Vendor Integration Protocol), 11. Any programming language integrating a voice processing system.

ANNEX 4 MEANS OF PAYMENT

1. Coins,

2. Credit cards,

3. Magnetic stripe cards,

4. Electronic memory cards,

5. Barcode cards, 6. Free numbers,

7. By operator.

Claims

1. Communication system on a public telephone network (1), between a user and at least one correspondent having a telecommunication device (21,22,23,24) connected to said public telephone network (1), characterized in that that said telecommunication system comprises a telephone server (30) installed on the public telephone network (1) and accessible by means of a user specific call number (N °), said telephone server (30) being capable to record a message (M1, M2, M3, M4) intended for the user on call from the correspondent by means of said user specific call number (N °), dialed on said device (21,22,23 , 24) telecommunications, so that the user accesses said message (M1, M2, M3, M4) by dialing at least said specific call number (No.) on a telephone device (10) connected to the public telephone network (1), said telephone apparatus (10) being a public telephone comp by means of telephone input / output in the form of voice, images, text, digital data.

2. Communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, to access the message (M1, M2, M3, M4) intended for it, the user also dials a personal authorization code (PAN).

3. Communication system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the user specific call number (N °) consists of a first alphanumeric sequence characteristic of the telephone server (30) and d 'a second alphanumeric sequence representing a personal user identification code.

4. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the telephone server (30) is capable of recording a message (M'1, M '4) intended for the correspondent on the user's call by means of said specific call number (N °), said message being accompanied, at least, by a number personal identification number (PIN 1, PIN4), so that the correspondent accesses said message by dialing, at least, the user's specific call number and personal number (PIN1, PIN4) identification on its telecommunication device (21, 24).

5. Communication system according to claim 4, characterized in that said personal number (PIN1, PIN4) of identification of the correspondent consists of his call number on the public telephone network (1).

6. Communication system according to claim 5, characterized in that the telephone server (30) comprises a database (31) of correspondent data, created by the user, comprising for each correspondent, at least his number (PINl, PIN4 ) call on the public telephone network (1), and a date (Dl, D4) and a time (H l, H4) of transmission of the message (M'1, M'4) to the correspondent by the server (30) telephone.

7. Communication system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, to access the message (M'1, M'4) intended for it, the correspondent also dials a personal authorization code ( PAN1, PAN4).

8. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said telephone apparatus

(10) includes means of access to the Internet.

9. Communication system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said telephone device (10) comprises means for accessing free numbers.

10. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said telephone server (30) comprises voice messaging services, image messaging, electronic mail, fax, telephony over the Internet. 'Internet, access to free numbers.

11. Communication system according to claim 10, characterized in that said telephone server (30) comprises means for processing speech.

12. Communication system according to claim 11, characterized in that said telephone server (30) comprises means of voice recognition, interactive voice response, menu by voice assistance.

13. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the public telephone network (1) is a so-called intelligent network, offering personalized services to the user.

14. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least the user's specific call number (N °) is stored in a subscriber card, capable of being entered. in a card reader of the telephone apparatus (10).

15. Communication system according to claim 14, characterized in that said subscriber card is an electronic memory card, a credit card, a magnetic stripe card, a barcode card.

16. Communication system according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that said subscriber card is a personalized card comprising options specific to the user.

17. Communication system according to claim 16, characterized in that said subscriber card includes the option of calling a free number.

18. Communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that said telephone apparatus

(10) comprises a screen, a printer, a video camera.